GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Lansing Lugnuts surged in front of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers with five runs in the fifth inning on Saturday night at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. A three-run double by Gustavo Pierre was the key hit of the inning. Lansing would keep the Rattlers off the board for the rest of the game for a 5-3 win. Wisconsin outhit the Lugnuts ten to six, but dropped their third game in a row.
Nick Ramirez doubled to lead off the Timber Rattlers half of the second inning. Ben McMahan would single to get Ramirez to third, but McMahan was thrown out trying to go to second as it appeared he thought Ramirez would try to score and McMahan was attempting to draw a throw. But, Ramirez held at third. An RBI grounder by Yadiel Rivera got Ramirez home for the 1-0 lead.
Wisconsin (57-40 overall, 13-15 second half) went up 3-0 in the third inning. Max Wallla drilled a two-run home run to right field with one out. The homer was Walla's fifth of the season.
Timber Rattlers starting pitcher David Goforth was cruising through 4-1/3 innings. But, he ran into a lot of trouble after the first out was recorded. A single, walk, and single loaded the bases for Kenny Wilson. The speedy centerfielder sent a grounder to short, the was mishandled for an error. One run scored and the bases were still loaded.
Goforth got ahead of Pierre with two quick strikes, but Pierre looped a double just inside the left field line for a three-run double to put the Lugnuts (64-33, 17-11) up 4-3. K.C. Hobson capped the inning with a two-out RBI single to get Pierre home for a 5-3 advantage.
Lansing starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani left after allowing nine hits over six innings, but was in line for the win.
Lugnuts reliever Kramer Champlin entered the game in the bottom of the seventh inning and the Rattlers greeted him by loading the bases with no outs. McMahan singled, Rivera walked on four pitches, and Rafael Neda singled to fill the sacks. Wisconsin went to the bench for a pinch hitter for just the second time this season, but Champlin struck out Greg Hopkins for the first out. A strikeout of Chadwin Stang and a popout by Walla ended the Rattlers threat.
Ajay Meyer, the Midwest League leader in saves, entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning and retired the side in order for his 26th save of the season.
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy was the designated hitter for the Timber Rattlers for the game. He went 0-for-3 with a walk.
Game two of the series between Wisconsin and Lansing is Sunday afternoon. Mark Williams (5-7, 3.91) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Justin Nicolino (5-2, 2.68) is set to start for the Lugnuts. Game time is 1:05pm.
Sunday is the final day of Jonathan Lucroy's rehabilitation assignment for the Timber Rattlers. He is scheduled to start at catcher and play the whole game.
Sunday is also Military Appreciation Day at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium sponsored by American National Bank Fox Cities, Boxkar, the Fox Valley Veterans Council & 99.5, The Wolf. All military personnel - active duty and veterans - receive free admission to the game with proof of service. Family members of military personnel may receive discounted admission.
The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a camouflage can coozie compliments of American National Bank Fox Cities. Rattlers players will wear special camouflage jerseys during the game. The jerseys will be up for bid via silent auction throughout the game with proceeds benefitting the SAVE4VETS Veterans Emergency Fund in the Fox Valley.
Boxkar will hold a special tribute concert outside the stadium after the game with a live performance of their original song American Game, a single inspired by Military Appreciation Day.
Additional event details include: Play catch on-field before the game courtesy of American Eagle and a Timber Rattlers autograph session after the game.
If you can't make it out to the game on Sunday, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 12:45pm. Sunday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.
R H E
LAN 000 050 000 - 5 6 0
WIS 012 000 000 - 3 11 1
Click here for Saturday's boxscore
HOME RUN:
WIS:
Max Walla (5th, 1 on in 3rd inning off Anthony DeSclafani, 1 out)
WP: Anthony DeSclafani (8-3)
LP: David Goforth (7-5)
SAVE: Ajay Meyer (26)
TIME: 2:35
ATTN: 6,211

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.